Base-ball mask.



J. M. SCH/\EFER.

BASE BALL MASK'.

APPLICATION FILED APR.4. 191s.

Patented June 6, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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Jbsep $75072 j M y aka/(061m J. M. SCHAEFER.

BASE BALL MASK.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 4, 191a.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES ATE inc JOSEPH M. S CHAEFER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO A. G. SPALDING & BROS, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BASE-BALL MASK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 3, 1916.

To (/U whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn M. SCIIAEFER, a citizen of the United States, whose residence is 818 East Sixty-fourth street, (hicago, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Base Ball Masks, of which the following is a specification.

The invention concerns particularly means for holding the base-ball mask in position upon the head of the user, in such manner as to avoid displacement, should the usei make a quick movement. and it concerns also means whereby the frame is rendered of st ronger construction.

The invention consists in the features and combination and arrangement of parts here inafter described and particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the accompanying drawingsFigure 1 is a side view of a mask embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a plan view partly in section; Fig. 3 is a view of a detail; Fig. t is a sectional view of the casing with the spring and rod in place; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the split wire joint,

In these drawings the main frame and pad of the mask are. of substantially ordinary construction. This mask ordinarily is held in position by means of an elastic strap, passing around the back of the head, but owing to the freedom with which this elastic strap yields or stretches an objection has been experienced in that the mask has become displaced on the head of the user when he makes a quick movement, and as such mask is used by the catcher the displacement referred to will disconcert him at a critical moment and'interfere with his'proper vision and cause him to make a misplay, such as a bad throw.

To avoid the use of this objectionable elastic or yielding connection is one object of my invention, which consists in employing an inelastic strap 01' hand 1 to pass around the head of the user. the ends of this strap being attached to rods or members 2 slidably mounted in casings 3. which are attached to the frame of the mask. Within these casings springs 4, of spiral form are mounted. which tend to keep the rods pressed toward the front of the casings. In other words, backward movement of the rods can take place only by compressing the springs. These springs therefore hold the inelastic strap or band in proper contact with the head of the catcher and will prevent slipping of the band at a critical moment. The tension of the holding means may be adjusted by the buckle and strap connection at 5.

While the spring casings may be mounted on the frame in various ways. and come within the broad scope of my invention, I have provided a mounting havin special advantages in the organization necessary. in devices of this character. This mounting consists in a pivotal connection between the casing and the frame which will allow the casing to accommodate itself to strains eX- ercised in different directions. A simple and effective way of providing this pivotal mounting is to make the casing with an opening (1, receiving one of the wires of the frame. as shown at 7), and thus the casing can have turning movement in a horizontal plane. The pivotal end of the casing is held in position against vertical displacement by the wires 0, 0', of the frame which are coiled at 0 about the wire 7). The casing lies within the side wire (Z, of the main frame and between the same and the padding e, andwith the vertical main wire (Z close thereto on its inner side and thus the casing is held in its approximate position and is allowed a limited movement. padding will give sufficiently to allow the casing to swing inwardly until stopped by the vertical wire ll, it being understood that slight pivotal movement of the casing is sufficient to meet all requirements. Outward swinging movement of the casing is limited by coming against the inner side of the wire J before mentioned. The casings are pivoted as stated. to the wires Z) and these wires form parts of the supplemental frames or extensions, indicated generally at f, and extending out laterally beyond themain frame, and lying in front and outside of said main frame. The free ends of the pivotal casings lie in about the'same vertical plane as the rear face of the pad and by reason of mounting the casings on the supplemental frames at some distance in front of the main frames a considerable length of casing can be used to contain a spring of adequate length and secure an appropriate length of yielding movement to suit different users.

'lhe casings are formed open with an extension at g, which is simply turned over The at right angles to the axis of the casing in order to close the same. The front end of the casing wall is turned in to afford a hearing for the spring. I also have improved the frame of the mask by flattening and splitting certain of the wires at the-end thereof and turning these split portions spirally around an adjacent wire or frame member to which the split wire must be attached. This provides a construction. superior to that which would be afforded by welding or other forms of connection. This connection is illustrated at 6, which comprises the main portion of the split wire, and 7 and S'indicate the ends which are split otf from the endeof the wire and turned spirally about the adjacent wire 9. This; construction is carried out in connection with the eye wires and the vertical wires which serve to brace and hold the eye wires. It is important that these e ve wires be retained firmly in position and this improved construction attains this result.

It will be observed that the wires having the split ends are turned from front to rear around the eve wires, thus bringing the main portions of said split wires toward the front with the coiled split portions lying close against the flattened main part of the wire. The points or ends of the split portions lie in rear of the front faces of the eye wires and the separation between the coiled split ends occurs at the back of the frame so that the front of the frame is left substantially free from projecting points or roughness.

What I claim is 1. In combination in a base-ball mask, a frame and a pad, a strap to pass around the back of the head for holding the mask in position, and resilient connecting means between the strap and the frame of the mask. substantially as described.

2. In combination in a base-ball mask, a frame and pad, an inelastic strap to pass around the back of the head for holding the mask in position, andresilient connecting means between the strap and the frame of the mask, substantially as described.

3. In combination in a base-ball mask, a frame and pad, aninelastic strap to pass around the back of the head for holding the mask in position and a resilient connection between each end of the inelastic strap and the frame, substantially as described.

4. In combination in a base-ball mask, a frame and pad, an inelastic strap to pass around the back of the head for holding the mask in position and a resilient connection between each end of the inelastic strap and the frame, said resilient connections comprising a rod, a holder, a spiral spring in the holder and exerting its force upon the rod. said rod being connected with the strap, substantially as described.

5. In combination with a frame of a mask, a barrel at each side of the same directed rearwardly, a compression spring in each barrel and a rod in each borne upon by the spring and a strap to pass back of the head having its ends attached to the said rods, substantiallv as described.

(3. In combination in a baseball mask, a wire frame, a casing, a spring within the casing, a strap connected with the spring to pass around the head of the user, said casing being supported by a plurality of the wires of the frame at separated points, substantially as described.

7. In combinationin a base-ball mask, a wire frame. a pad, a casing containing a spring, and a strap connected with the spring, said casing being mounted on the frame atone point, and extending between the pad and a wire of the frame at another point. substantially as described.

8. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad, a casing containing a spring and a strap connected with said spring to go around the user's head, said casing being mounted on one of the wires of the frame and confined against displacement by other wires of the frame, substantially as described.

9. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad carried thereby, a casing containing a spring. a strap connected with the spring to go around the user's head, said casing being pivotally mounted on one of the wires ofthe frame, substantially as described.

10. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad carried thereby, a casing containing a spring, a strap connected with the spring to go around the users head, said casing being pivotally mounted on one of the wires of the frame, and confined by other wires of the frame, substantially as described.

11. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a casing containing a spring, a strap connected with said spring to pass around the users head, saidcasing having an opening through which one of the frame wires extend to hold the casing in place, substantially as described.

12. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad carried by the frame, a supplemental frame in front of the main frame. a casing connected with one of the wires of the supplemental frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, a spring in the casing and a strap connected with the spring, substantially asdescribed.

13. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame. a pad carried by the frame, a supplemental frame in front of the main frame, a casing connected with one of the wires of the supplemental frame and extending rearwardly therefrom, a spring in the casing and a strap connected with the spring, said casing extending between the wires of the main frame, substantially as described. I

14. In comblnation in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad carried by the frame, a casing containing a spring, a strap connected with the spring, said casing being held between horizontal wires of the frame at one point, and being controlled by a vertical wire of the frame at another point, substantially as described.

15. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad connected with the frame, a supplemental frame connected with the main frame, a casing having one end mounted on a vertical wire of the supplemental frame, and between horizontal wires thereof and extending rearwardly therefrom between vertical wires of the main frame, said casing having pivotal movement, a spring within said casing and a strap connected to said spring, substantially as described.

16. In combination in a base-ball mask, a pad, a wire frame, one member of which has its end split and with the split ends turned around an adjacent wire, on opposite sides scribed.

18. In combination in a base-ball mask, a pad, a wire frame, one member of which has its ends split and turned around an adjacent wire from front to rear and on opposite sides of the main part of the split wire, substantially as described.

19. In combination in a base-ball mask, a wire frame, a pad, an inelastic strap to pass around the users head and a resilient conmotion between the strap and the frame, movably mounted on the frame to accommodate itself to strains in different directions, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I aflix' my signature.

JOSEPH M. SCHAEFER. Witnesses R. G. PRINDLE, WM. C. AUTINK. 

